Plush toy kit including storage compartment for notecards on special occasions or holidays

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is generally directed to combining personalized thoughts and a gift into a single item. A kit is provided for creating and storing thoughts and memories on items in a container such as a plush toy. The kit includes media such as a plurality of paper sheets, notecards, and/or letters. During the special occasion or holiday, the paper sheets, the writing implement and the instructions are removed from the internal storage compartment of the container. Completed paper sheets are returned to the internal storage compartment for safekeeping. The completed paper sheets are retained inside the plush toy in a safe and organized manner but may then be subsequently removed from the internal storage compartment of the plush toy and read in order to reflect upon on the past special occasion, holiday or event.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field of the embodiments presented herein is directed toward acontainer such as a pillow or plush toy including an internal storagecompartment for housing special occasion or holiday items as well astools and materials for creating and personalizing the special occasionor holiday items before placing them inside the storage compartment forsafekeeping.

BACKGROUND

It is commonplace to give or send notecards, letters, and handwrittennotes to loved ones on special occasions or on holidays. Gifts are alsogiven, but the personal thoughts written on the notecards and lettersare often of more value to the recipient than the gift itself. However,the notecards and letters are often lost, misplaced or stored away inplaces that become difficult to access. Sometimes they are justforgotten.

It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosureherein is presented.

SUMMARY

It should be appreciated that this Summary is provided to introduce aselection of concepts in a simplified form that are further describedbelow in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to beused to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one embodiment disclosed herein, a kit is provided. The kit includesa container having at least one storage compartment, a writingimplement, a plurality of paper sheets, and instructions withinformation on how the paper sheets are to be used including examples ofindicia which may be included on one or more of the paper sheets. One ormore users such as friends or family members utilize the writingimplement to provide indicia on one or more of the plurality of papersheets. The storage compartment of the container then receives andretains the paper sheets having indicia thereon. The container may bevisually displayed with the paper sheets that have indicia thereonretained within the storage compartment. The storage compartment may beopened later such as on an anniversary of the special occasion or theholiday to retrieve and reflect upon the paper sheets that have indiciathereon.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, a container assembly isprovided. The container assembly includes a container having at leastone storage compartment, a writing implement, a plurality of papersheets configured to be folded wherein one or more paper sheets aresized to be received and retained within the storage compartment whenfolded, and instructions with information on how the plurality of papersheets are to be used including examples of indicia which may beincluded on one or more of the plurality of paper sheets. The storagecompartment of the container initially retains the plurality of papersheets, the writing implement and the instructions. The paper sheets,the writing implement and the instructions are removable from thestorage compartment of the container. One or more of the paper sheetswhen folded and include indicia created with the writing implement arereturned to the storage compartment of the container after having beenremoved.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, a method for retaining andorganizing thoughts expressed in the form of indicia provided from lovedones or holidays or special occasions is provided. The method includesreceiving via a first user a container having a storage compartment,providing to a plurality of other users a plurality of paper sheets, awriting implement and instructions comprising information on how theplurality of sheets are to be used including examples of indicia whichmay be included on one or more of the plurality of paper sheets;providing, via one or more of the plurality of other users utilizing thewriting implement, indicia on one or more of the paper sheets;configuring one or more paper sheets having indicia thereon to bereceived and retained within the storage compartment of the container;and visually displaying the container with the one or more paper sheetshaving indicia thereon retained within the storage compartment of thecontainer.

The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed can beachieved independently in various embodiments of the present disclosureor may be combined in yet other embodiments, further details of whichcan be seen with reference to the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments presented herein will become more fully understood fromthe detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A illustrates one embodiment of a plush toy with an internalstorage compartment shown in phantom for receiving and retainingnotecards, letters, handwritten notes and other items according to atleast one embodiment disclosed herein,

FIG. 1B illustrates a back view of the plush toy of FIG. 1A wherein apersonalized note is folded and placed though an opening in the back tobe received and retained within the storage compartment of the plush toyaccording to at least one embodiment disclosed herein,

FIG. 2 illustrates a back view of a plush toy in the shape of an applehaving an internal storage compartment for receiving and retainingnotecards, letters, handwritten notes and other items according to atleast one embodiment disclosed herein,

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a plush toy in the shape of aheart having an internal storage compartment for receiving and retainingnotecards, letters, handwritten notes and other items according to atleast one embodiment disclosed herein,

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate front and back views of a plush toy in theshape of a tooth having an internal storage compartment for receivingand retaining notecards, letters, handwritten notes and other itemsaccording to at least one embodiment disclosed herein,

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate front and back views of a bag having aninternal storage compartment for receiving and retaining notecards,letters, handwritten notes and other items according to at least oneembodiment disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is directed to a kit, containerassembly and method for retaining and organizing thoughts expressed inthe form of indicia provided from loved ones or holidays or specialoccasions. The present inventions are susceptible of embodiment in manydifferent forms. There is no intent to limit the principles of thepresent inventions to the particular disclosed embodiments. In thefollowing detailed description, references are made to the accompanyingdrawings that form a part hereof and in which are shown by way ofillustration specific embodiments or examples. Referring to thedrawings, in which like numerals represent like elements throughout theseveral figures, aspects of the present disclosure will be presented.

In one or more embodiments the present invention is a kit or containerassembly of components or parts used and arranged to enable reflectionupon a past special occasion or holiday. For example, the kit orcontainer may be provided as a gift for a birthday, anniversary, or foran expecting mother. Thoughts, well wishes or words of encouragement canbe conveyed to someone on the special day or holiday which are thenarchived in a storage compartment of a container such as a pillow orplush toy. Preferably, the container is flexible, but the storagecompartment is rigidly defined and configured so that any contents arenot damaged while the container is being handled, displayed or stored.The pillow or plush toy may be in the form of a teddy bear or some otheranimal or shape. Also, the container may be themed as a result of itsconfiguration, color, decorations and/or writing included on itsexterior.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate one embodiment of a plush toy in the form ofa teddy bear 10. The teddy bear 10 includes an internal storagecompartment 12 for receiving and retaining media. For example, aplurality of paper sheets such as notecards 14 may be received andretained within the storage compartment 12. Alternatively, the media maytake other forms suitable for receiving and recording indicia from awriting implement such as a pen or pencil.

For example, someone can purchase the teddy bear 10 as part of a kitthat includes the notecards 14, at least one writing implement 16, andinstructions 18 which include information on how the notecards 14 are tobe used. The instructions could include examples of indicia which guestsmay include on one or more of the notecards 14. Preferably, more thanone writing implement is included so that multiple notecards 14 may becompleted at the same time. The notecards 14, writing implement 16 andinstructions 18 may be included in the storage compartment 12 whenpurchasing the teddy bear 10 as a gift. Alternatively, the notecards 14,writing implement 16 and instructions 18 may be included as part of thepurchase but separate from the storage compartment 12 of the teddy bear10.

All or a portion of the plurality of notecards 14 may be blank or aportion of the plurality of notecards 14 may include a partial sentenceor phrase for prompting or suggesting how to write out thoughts or topersonalize the notecards 14. During an event one or more of thenotecards 14 are provided to other users such as friends and familymembers which are present for an event. As explained in the instructions18, these users can then utilize the writing implement 16 to personalizethe notecards 14 by providing indicia on the notecard 14 thatcorresponds with their personalized thoughts or well wishes for anotherperson that will ultimately be receiving the teddy bear 10. Notecards 14that already include some indicia prompt the user to complete thesentence or thought. The instructions 18 may include examples of how tocomplete the notecards 14.

Upon each user completing their notecard 14, the completed notecard 14is placed within the storage compartment 12 of the teddy bear 10. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 1B, the notecard is folded and the zipper 20is unzipped in order for the folded notecard 14 to be placed within thestorage compartment 12. Preferably, the notecards 14 are initiallylarger than the opening to the storage compartment 12 and therefore maybe pre-folded or scored so that all the notecards 14 when completedwould be the same size when received and retained within the storagecompartment 12. Other means for keeping the storage compartment 12closed may also be used such as fasteners.

Also, the completed and folded notecards 14 may first be placed inside abag and then the bag with the notecards 14 inside may be placed insidethe storage compartment 12. Alternatively, completed and foldednotecards 14 may be first placed in a box or some other secondarycontainer which is then placed inside the storage compartment 12. Forexample, the folded notecards 14 may be collected in the bag or box andthen at the end of the event or afterwards the bag or box may be placedinside the storage compartment 12. In other words, the bag or box may benested inside the container 10. In another embodiment, the collectednotecards 14 may be removed from the bag or box at the end of the eventor afterwards and then placed inside the storage compartment 12.

In one or more embodiments, the storage compartment 12 may include anindicator such as an alarm, a displayed date or blinking light thatindicates or reminds someone to open the storage compartment 12 in orderto provide the opportunity to recall the event by reading the notecards14 again. Also, in one or more embodiments, a window may be provided sothat it is possible to see notecards 14 inside the storage compartment12.

Thus, a collection of completed notecards 14, with indicia there on, arereceived and retained within the storage compartment 12 of the teddybear 10. Upon the conclusion of the event, the teddy bear 10 may then bevisually displayed in a prominent manner by the user for which thenotecards 14 were intended. In one or more embodiments, the containersuch as the teddy bear 10 is provided with internal structural membersso that the teddy bear 10 remains sitting upright even when havingcompleted notecards 14 inside the storage compartment 12. Sometimes aplush toy with such an internal structure is referred to as having askeleton or as “boned.” The storage compartment 12 may then be opened onan anniversary of the special occasion, holiday or event to retrieve thenotecards 14. Thus, the completed notecards 14 are retained inside theteddy bear 10 in a safe and organized manner but may then besubsequently removed from the storage compartment 12 and read in orderto reflect upon the past special occasion, holiday or event.

Instead of a teddy bear, the container with an internal storagecompartment may take other shapes such as, but not limited to, an apple26 for a teacher as illustrated in FIG. 2, a heart 30 with the zipper 20on the side for valentine's day as illustrated in FIG. 3, a tooth 40 asillustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, or a bag 50 as illustrated in FIGS. 5Aand 5B. The tooth 40 may also include a pocket 42 for holding a tooththat has fallen out which may be exchanged for money during the night.The bag 50 may have a Christmas theme and drawstrings 52 for closing thebag 50 as shown in FIG. 5B. The bag 50 may also include a pocket 54.Another example may be a ball configured for a particular sport.

In addition to the kit and container assembly, the present inventionsalso includes a method for retaining and organizing thoughts expressedin the form of indicia provided from loved ones on holidays or specialoccasions. The method includes the steps of receiving via a first user acontainer having a storage compartment; providing to a plurality ofother users a plurality of paper sheets, a writing implement andinstructions comprising information on how the plurality of sheets areto be used including examples of indicia which may be included on one ormore of the plurality of paper sheets; providing, via one or more of theplurality of other users utilizing the writing implement, indicia on oneor more of the plurality of paper sheets; configuring one or more of theplurality of paper sheets having indicia thereon to be received andretained within the storage compartment of the container; and visuallydisplaying the container with the one or more of the plurality of papersheets having indicia thereon retained within the storage compartment ofthe container.

The method may also include removing the one or more paper sheets havingindicia. For example, the method may further include opening the storagecompartment of the container on an anniversary of a special occasion,holiday or event to retrieve the one or more of the plurality of papersheets having indicia thereon. The step of configuring one or more ofthe plurality of paper sheets having indicia thereon may include foldingeach of the one or more of the plurality of paper sheets having indiciathereon.

Unless otherwise indicated, more or fewer operations may be performedthan shown in the figures and described herein. Additionally, unlessotherwise indicated, these operations may also be performed in adifferent order than those described herein.

The subject matter described above is provided by way of illustrationonly and should not be construed as limiting. Various modifications andchanges may be made to the subject matter described herein withoutfollowing the example embodiments and applications illustrated anddescribed, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims.

1. A kit comprising: a container defined by a plush toy presented foruse during a public event with a plurality of users, the containercomprising at least one storage compartment accessible by the pluralityof users during the public event; a plurality of paper sheets, each ofthe paper sheets having handwriting thereon written on by a respectiveone of the users and placed within the storage compartment; andinstructions comprising information on how the plurality of paper sheetsare to be used including examples of indicia which may be included onone or more of the plurality of paper sheets, wherein the plush toy withthe paper sheets with handwriting retained within the storagecompartment is received by a person as a gift after the public event. 2.The kit of claim 1 further comprising a writing implement, wherein thestorage compartment of the container retains the plurality of papersheets, the writing implement and the instructions.
 3. The kit of claim1 wherein the plurality of paper sheets, the writing implement and theinstructions have been removed from the compartment of the container andwherein one or more users utilized the writing implement to provideindicia on one or more of the plurality of paper sheets.
 4. The kit ofclaim 3 wherein the storage compartment of the container receives andretains the one or more of the plurality of paper sheets having indiciathereon.
 5. The kit of claim 4 wherein the container is visuallydisplayed with the one or more of the plurality of paper sheets havingindicia thereon retained within the storage compartment.
 6. The kit ofclaim 5 wherein the storage compartment is opened on an anniversary of aspecial occasion, holiday or event to retrieve the one or more of theplurality of paper sheets having indicia thereon.
 7. The kit of claim 1wherein the plurality of paper sheets is one of the following: abooklet, a plurality of notecards or a plurality of letters.
 8. The kitof claim 1 wherein the container is a plush toy.
 9. The kit of claim 8wherein the plush toy is a teddy bear.
 10. The kit of claim 8 whereinthe plush toy is shaped like one of the following: an apple, a heart, atooth or a ball.
 11. A container assembly comprising: a containerdefined by a plush toy presented for use during a public event with aplurality of users, the container having at least one storagecompartment accessible by the plurality of users during the public eventa plurality of paper sheets configured to be folded wherein one or morepaper sheets are sized to be received and retained within the storagecompartment when folded, each of the paper sheets having handwritingthereon written on by a respective one of the users and placed withinthe storage compartment and instructions comprising information on howthe plurality of paper sheets are to be used including examples ofindicia which may be included on one or more of the plurality of papersheets, wherein the storage compartment of the container retains theplurality of paper sheets, the instructions and the plurality of papersheets, wherein the instructions are removable from the compartment ofthe container, wherein one or more of the plurality of paper sheets whenfolded and include indicia created with the writing implement arereturned to the storage compartment of the container after having beenremoved, and wherein the plush toy with the paper sheets withhandwriting retained within the storage compartment is received by aperson as a gift after the public event.
 12. The container assembly ofclaim 11 wherein the container is a plush toy.
 13. The containerassembly of claim 12 wherein a portion of the plurality of paper sheetsare provided blank and another portion of the plurality of paper sheetsare provided partially completed such that users may then use a writingimplement to complete the partially completed paper sheets.
 14. Thecontainer assembly of claim 11 wherein the container is shaped tocorrespond with a holiday or themed to correspond with a specialoccasion.
 15. The container assembly of claim 11 wherein the containeris in the shape of one of the following: an apple, a heart, or a tooth.16. The container assembly of claim 11 wherein the container is visuallydisplayed with the one or more of the plurality of paper sheets havingindicia thereon retained within the storage compartment and wherein thestorage compartment is opened on an anniversary of a special occasion oron a holiday to retrieve the one or more of the plurality of papersheets having indicia thereon.
 17. A method for retaining and organizingthoughts expressed in the form of indicia provided from loved ones orholidays or special occasions, the method comprising: receiving via afirst user a container having a storage compartment; providing to aplurality of other users a plurality of paper sheets, a writingimplement and instructions comprising information on how the pluralityof sheets are to be used including examples of indicia which may beincluded on one or more of the plurality of paper sheets; providing, viaone or more of the plurality of other users utilizing the writingimplement, indicia on one or more of the plurality of paper sheets;configuring one or more of the plurality of paper sheets having indiciathereon to be received and retained within the storage compartment ofthe container; and visually displaying the container with the one ormore of the plurality of paper sheets having indicia thereon retainedwithin the storage compartment of the container.
 18. The method of claim17 wherein configuring one or more of the plurality of paper sheetshaving indicia thereon comprises folding each of the one or more of theplurality of paper sheets having indicia thereon.
 19. The method ofclaim 17 further comprising removing the one or more paper sheets havingindicia from the storage compartment.
 20. The method of claim 17 furthercomprising opening the storage compartment of the container on ananniversary of a past special occasion, holiday or event to retrieve theone or more of the plurality of paper sheets having indicia thereon.